FIFA denies Barca's transfer ban appeal

Zurich, Switzerland (SportsNetwork.com) - Barcelona had its transfer ban appeal turned down by FIFA on Wednesday, meaning that the club will be unable to sign any players in 2015.

Barcelona was punished by FIFA in April and was banned from signing any players for two consecutive transfer windows after being found guilty of repeatedly violating transfer regulations regarding young players.

FIFA agreed to suspend the transfer ban pending an appeal, and Barcelona has taken advantage by shelling out around $200 million this summer to bring in Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Claudio Bravo, Thomas Vermaelen, Alen Halilovic and Jeremy Mathieu.

On Wednesday FIFA decided to turn down Barca's appeal, and the club has signaled its intention to take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a final effort to have the ban lifted.

Barcelona will be able to sign players up until the end of the summer transfer window on Sept. 1, but if the ban is not overturned by the CAS, Barca will have to wait until January 2016 before the team can sign any players.

In addition to the transfer ban, Barcelona has also been ordered to pay a fine of $500,000 and has been given 90 days in order regulate the situation concerning minor players.